In Chile, approximately 15.8 million registered voters are mandated by law to participate in the upcoming presidential election for the first time since 2012. Current frontrunner Kast is anticipated to gain additional support from conservative candidates who did not qualify for the runoff, despite finishing second in the initial voting round in November. Voter sentiment has raised concerns regarding the increased focus on crime during the campaign. Daniela Ocaranza, a Santiago resident and affordable housing advocate, perceives this emphasis as potentially exaggerated, attributing it to media portrayal rather than actual crime rates. She argues that while crime appears to be increasing—a trend observed globally—other pressing issues, such as education and healthcare, deserve more attention. Expert Johnson highlights that while politicians often propose stringent policies to address public fears about crime, studies indicate that punitive measures may not yield effective results, ultimately affecting community engagement and economic vitality.
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